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Today, I skated. For the first time in over a month, I really skated a session. I didn’t skate my hardest, but I wasn’t lazy, either. I skated. For me. Because I wanted to, and because, honestly, I love it. I love this sport – not for the competitions, not for shows, not for tests. I enjoy skating – especially the jumping, but yes, even the spinning and the footwork. It’s an amazing sport. And I skated well. My jumps were good. For me, they were good. They felt good. My spins were, too. And I felt good on the ice. These were MY opinions on MY skating. The only opinion that really matters, especially at this point. I’m not an Olympian, I never will be. But I skate, and I skate for me.

I’ve come to a realization, slowly, that I need to skate for me – no one else. Not for Vika, who I’ve LOVED skating with and taking through the pair tests, not for my coach, Genia, who has been an amazing coach. Not for my wife, or my friends, or anyone else. But for me. What I realized today, was that I skated well because I wasn’t worried about what anyone else thought. I didn’t worry about who I needed to impress, or who I needed to improve for. I didn’t worry about showing off or proving myself. I got on the ice and skated for the sheer enjoyment of it. That’s not to say that I didn’t fall. I fell, but it was okay, and I didn’t get flustered or frustrated. I just analyzed what went wrong and worked to correct it. It was ok. And I realized, that if I decide to finish my tests (singles, moves, or even pairs) that it has to be because I want to, for me. I think that’s what burned me out, is that I was skating for the wrong reasons, for the wrong person, and with the wrong motivation. I think, that if I want to continue to skate, and to succeed at it (for whatever success is to me at this point), then it needs to truly be for me.

Why do you skate? What motivates you? Is it because you love it? Because you want to win? Do you skate because you’re told to, or because you just always have? Do you feel driven to succeed? For whom? I think answering these questions, or others like them, are important when you commit to a sport like this one (or really, anything else in life). The answers to these questions will define how well you do, and the right answers and the right motivations can really have an impact on your attitude, drive, and ambition. They can make or break you.

Discover why you skate, and in addition to whatever other reasons you have, do it for YOU. No one else.

What a weekend! The annual Utah Winter Games competition went down in Park City this past weekend. I had the largest number of skaters that I’ve ever taken to an event participate in this one (7!). My weekend started at about 4:30 in the morning on Friday the 8th, as I woke up to take Jordyn to her 6:30 (!) practice ice session. She had a decent warm up session, following which, we got breakfast at a little diner in Heber City called Chick’s Diner. It was pretty good. 🙂 Back to the rink after that to get ready for her skate. She got ready, got her warmed up, and it was time. She went on the ice for her Juvenile Artistic event, and started off well. Unfortunately, she didn’t end as strongly as we would have liked, but she competed, and that was awesome. Jordyn, I’m so glad you decided to compete! I’m proud of you! Keep skating, but do it for you, because you love it, not for any other reason!

After Jordyn, I had a short break before back to back practice ice sessions with Nicole and Sami. Both had good sessions, and I had another break before my son skated his first competition! No, I’m not his coach, and he’s not part of the 7 above, but what proud father wouldn’t post about his son? Aside from a small fall right at the start (that didn’t even faze him!), he skated well, had a blast, and, I might add, got FIRST place! I’m so proud of him!

Shortly after, it was Sami’s turn for her Basic 5 program event. She did a great skate, looked as adorable as always, and seemed to enjoy herself. She took a well earned 2nd place finish. After her was Nicole, who skated one of her best Freeskate 3 programs ever! She was well deserving of her 1st place finish! Looks like we’ll have to up the ante for the next competition! By now, it was well after 7pm, and time to get home. I think it was after 8 before we actually left the rink!

Phew! What a long first day! 6am to 8pm!

Thankfully, I got to sleep in on Saturday! I didn’t have to be in Park City until 10am for Kaydee’s Pre-Preliminary Freeskate. Kaydee gave it her best, but sadly, she’s been struggling with boot issues (the leather on the side is tearing – the boots have been replaced, but we couldn’t swap right before the competition) and she didn’t have her best skate. She never gave up, though, and fought through to the end. For that, I’m proud of her.

Mindee’s practice ice was next, and we worked out some nerves and some issues with the sit-spin.

The next skater isn’t technically mine, but Isabella is close enough to not matter. Technically, I put her on the ice since her primary coach, Vika, isn’t old enough to be credentialed, so she has to sign up under me. I do work with her on occasion, and I do take an active role in her warm-up and prep on competition day, so I’ll claim her anyways ;). She seemed to have a few nerves this time around for her Preliminary Freeskate, and stepped out of one double salchow, and fell on the second, but she nailed her double toe, and was thinking on her feet when she turned her last axel into a combination with a double toe that should have been on the end of the first salchow. Despite the errors, she skated well and earned a first place finish.

Finally, I had my two Adult Pre-Bronze skaters, Kristyn and Mindee. They were supposed to skate against a third skater, but that skater withdrew, so it was just the two of them. Being the good friends and teammates they are, they encouraged and supported each other through to their 1-2 finish (respectively). Both skated well, and I had no complaints about either.

Overall it was a long and exhausting weekend with many more happy moments than disappointments, and even the disappointments were tinged with positives, so it was a very successful event. I’m so proud of all my skaters for coming out and skating their best, and I look forward to our next competition!

Congrats to all the other skaters who participated and thank you to the FSC of Park City for a great event!

The next test session I’ll be attending is December 8, 2012 at Cottonwood Heights. Applications open up on October 24th. Please have them in early, as it is usually a busy test session, thanks! If you need help filling out the app, let me know, thanks!

Just a quick note: the schedules are posted for Oktoberfest on the entryeeze website, so make sure to check them. Also, the new freestyle schedules for the oval and county are posted on their respective sites.

I am now also on staff staff at the county ice center, so I will be coaching there a bit more, but it should not impact my schedule at the oval.

The July freestyle schedule has been posted for the Oval. You’ll notice we’ve gotten some new morning sessions for the next couple weeks. These are a nice touch for summer. Please utilize them if you can – the more we utilize our freestyles, the more likely we are to keep/get more. Always be sure to sign in at the front desk when you do come skate, so that proper credit is noted for use.

Skate Salt Lake will take place on August 9-11 at the County Ice Center in Murray. The application deadline is this Friday, July 6. Entries must be postmarked by this date. There does not appear to be an online entry option. Please come talk to me if you are interested in participating in this competition.

I have updated the calendar for April to cover most lessons while the Oval is out. Please review it for any changes.

I will need to reschedule the lessons for Saturday, April 14, however. I will talk to each of you that is affected to arrange for alternate times next week. As always you can text, call, or email me with any concerns.